INFORMATION: there is a new extension, called FredoGhost, which provides a more generic and customizable framework for Proxies. Here is the main thread for FredoGhost. Note that FredoGhost supports only SU2017 and above.

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# Permission to use this software for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted# Distribution of this software for any purpose is subject to:# - the expressed, written consent of the author# - the inclusion of the present copyright notice in all copies.

Please UPGRADE to this latest version 1.4 if you run SU 2018.

The concept behind GhostComp is to associate a simplified version to a component (called Ghost). Then the script provides an easy way to switch back and forth between the Ghost version and the Real version in the model. The idea is that in many situations, switching heavy and complex components to their Ghost version would make the model view lighter to manipulate during the design phase (for orbiting, copying, etc…).

Note : I just realized that the concept had been introduced independently, but earlier, by AdamB, under the name of Proxy, in his LightUp plugin. So, I wanted everyone to know.

This is an experimental concept, and frankly, I don’t know if it really fits any practical design workflow with high-poly models. If it does, then I think it should better be implemented in the native Sketchup application than in Ruby (if the Google SU team has time of course).

In version 1.1, the ‘simplified’ Ghost version can be generated as:

the Bounding Box of the top level component (so just 6 faces)

the Bounding Boxes of the top level component and its subcomponents, hierarchically

a Wireframe of the component

a Simplified copy of the component (keeping a limited number of the largest faces)

a Frozen copy of the component (useful before performing poly-greedy transformation such as RoundCorner or Subdivide & Smooth)

GhostComp modes.jpg

Under the cover, GhostComp uses a hidden layer to maintain copies of the original components and their Ghost versions. Unfortunately, as there is no way to hide component definitions, you’ll see the Ghost component definitions in the Component browser. Note that GhostComp does not touch, modify or delete the original components.

GhostComp - Quickcard - English - v1.1 - 27 Nov 13.pdf

Just drop the attached PDF file into the SU Plugins directory to have it accessible from within Sketchup.

Sketchup: v6 to SU2018 – works better with v8 M2 and above

Platform: Windows and Mac

Language: English, French, Chinese

Menus: by default, it is installed in Tools > Fredo6 Collection > GhostComp

Icon toolbar: by Default ‘Ghost Comp. At first installation all 10 icons are shown. You can then configure which icon you wish to include in the toolbar from the Default Parameters…).

GhostComp native toolbar.png

There is an alternative toolbar by DJMX1

GhostComp - toolbar by DJMX1.png

The plugin is free, for private and commercial usage. There is a donation menu however.

CAUTION: NEVER rename or move files from their folders. If you are unsure of your unzip operation, do it in a neutral folder and check that you reconstruct the right footprint. Then transfer the folders and files to the SU Plugin Directory.

If you run SU8, SU13 or SU14, the strongly recommended installation method is to Autoinstall with the SCF Plugin Store tool.

Note for SU6 and SU7 users, download the rbz file from the plugin store page, and change its extension from .rbz to .zipThen: 1) Open the zip archive 2) Select All (Ctrl A) 3) Extract into the Sketchup Plugin Directory 4) Answer YES to OVERWRITE all existing files if any 5) Make sure you get the correct footprint (one rb file and one folder)

Wireframe and Simplify options are rather for components that are not too complex, but would be repeated hundreds times in the model.In this version 1.0, I did not optimize the generation of Ghosts actually, as my primary goal was to understand whether the concept would be useful.

You can generate a Bounding Box Ghost for all objects (do a Select All before generation). The problem is to have a view where Ghosts are activated while in other views they are not.This again underlines that it should be the SU Team integrating this type of dual appearance concept in the native Sketchup application. In Ruby script, there are too many limitations to make something clean, fast, safe and transparent to the model (i.e. without creating tons of hidden components, use a hidden layer, ...).

This is a plugin I will use very often (always?). finally a way to keep on editing those high poly scenes (trees, etc...).I agree that a feature like this should be standard SU stuff, but I am glad you made it into a plugin.

Whaat wrote:Another winner Fredo! I had a similar idea once but never got to implementing it. I also wanted to mention that I have been using your Round Corner script lately and it is incredible! Great work!

Thanks Dale. It shows that the Google SU team should have a closer look to what they could do natively in the Sketchup application, as this could be a useful complement to their quest for high-poly support.Fredo

Thanks a lot.Actually, the best is to create a subfolder IMAGES_DJMX1 in the folder GHOSTCOMP_DIR_10 and put the icons there. Then in the Default Parameters dialog box for GhostComp you can enable these icons. This way, you are sure that they won't be overwritten in a next release of GhostComp.

This is excellent for preparing renderings with tons of 3D vegetation, Thank you very much!An option to have just wireframes of the two bounding boxes options (recursive and simple) would be cool for the next version.

It looks like a problem of installation, most probably your Unzip programs not reconstructing the folder hierarchy.Check out the footprint of files and folder in the post and in the documentation.It seems that some users have this type of problem.By curiosity, which utility do you use to unzip the files?

It looks like a problem of installation, most probably your Unzip programs not reconstructing the folder hierarchy.Check out the footprint of files and folder in the post and in the documentation.It seems that some users have this type of problem.By curiosity, which utility do you use to unzip the files?